Marine signal



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Patented July 21, 1931 U-l'lz'@ TTES RGBERT J. ANDERSON, OF WHITMAN, MASSACHUSETTS, .ASSGNOR T0. NATIONAL wonirs, ino., or WEST Hanovre, MASSACHUSETTS, a ooaronarron or Massa..

CHUSETTS MARINE SIGNAL Application filed May :20, 1929. Serial No. 364,421.

This invention relates to improvementsin marine signals and the general object thereof is to provide a float signal which may be ignited during submergence with certainty and which, while floating upon the surface of a body of water, will produce a signal flame' or smoke, or preferably both, for approximately a predetermined period of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a marine signal comprising a float having a chamber containing a pyrotechnical composition capable of producing a Signal which can be ignited when submerged, with means for venting` the products of combustion during submergence and while the float is rising to the surface of the water. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a marine signal comprising a float having a chamber Jfor a pyrotechnical material having metallic means for sealing the cham` ber against the admission orn water under pressure. Y v Y Y s A further object of the invention is to provide a-marine signal of the character specified with novel ring `and igniting mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marine signal having a chamberV containing a series of two or more pellets of pyrotechnical composition with means for preventing relative movement of the pellets within the chamber, and also yieldable to the expansion of the pyrotechnical material durilnother object of the invention is to provide a marine signal of the character specilied with means oit relatively small cross sectional a-rea for venting the productsy of combustion during submergence, and means providing a relatively larger discharge orilice for the flame and/or smoke during the burning of the pyrotechnical composition.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a marine signal of the above character which can'be economically constructed.

panyino drawings and will be particularlyl pointed out in the claims. v In the drawings:

F ig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of a iring pin and cartridge therein and the means for sealing the chamber against the admis- Sio-n of water under pressure. p

The marine signal forming the .subject matter of the present invention is adapted to be projected from a submarine when Submerged, dropped from an airship, or projected from a vessel either above or below the.

water line thereof. The marine signal embodying thesubject matter' of the present lin-k vention is so designed and constructed that the water under pressure, when the signal is discharged from a submarine at deep sub-g, mergence, will be wholly excluded fromthe pyrotechnical material. Firing means are provided which may be operated when the signal is projectedirom a suitable discharg# ing apparatus from a Submarine, or dropped from an aeroplane, or otherwise delivered, and means are provided for vent-ing the prodn nets of combustion upon ignition which will insure maintenance of combustion when submerged and continuous operation of the signal after the float has risen to the surface of the water throughout substantially the predetermined period of time which is required for the complete combustion oi the pyrotechnical composition. v

The preferred embodiment of the invention illust-rated in the drawings comprises a float l, preferably of cylindricalform, and which may be of wood, or other suitable'material, having relatively light specific gravity. The

which desirably is of cylindrical form eX- tending axially of the float and is provided with a metallic lining, preferabjf in the form float is prcvioedwith a central chamber of a seamless brass tube 2, which desirably extends throughout the length of the chainber and forms a barrel to receive the pyrotechnical composition which desirably is in the form of cylindrical pellets 3 having a preferably cylindrical aperture or bore through which a fuse 4 may be led for purposes Which Will hereinafter appear. il brass ring 5, Which is internally screv.7 threaded with line thread, is sweated into the breech end of the tube or barrel 2 and is provided With a flange which engages the end of the barrel. 'A breech-block 6 is screwed into the ring 5 and is provided WithV a peripheral 'flange overlying the flange of the ring 5, the construction being such that the breech end of the tube is hermetically sealed.

The breech-block 6 is provided with a central cylindrical aperture, preferably extending therethrough and forming a cartridge chamber 7. lThe outer end of the chamber is covered and hermetically sealed by a thin plate 8 of pliable metal, preferably copper disk, which is sweated to the outer face of' the breech-block 6 and Wriich forms a hermetic seal. A firing pin 9 is loosely mounted in the cartridge chamber 7 and comprises a flat head which engages the pliable sheet metal plate 3 and has a central point which engages a cartridge 10 which is mounted in fuse cone 11 Which in turn is seated in the end of a preterably copper tube 12 which is pushed over the fuse cone and extends into the aperture of the breech-block.A

The tube 12 preferably extends beyond the fuse cone into the central aperture of the adjacent pellet of pyrotechnical composition and the fuse 4 extends into the tube 19, in proximity to the fuse cone. rlhe tube 12 may be provided with a crimp 13 to determine the position of the untrayed end of the fuse. A spacing ring lll, of fibrous material, desirably is interposed between the breech-block and the end of the adjacent 1pellet of pyrotechnical composition.

Any suitable mechanism may be provided Jfor firing the cartridge to ignite the fuse. ln the preferred construction illustrated herein a bronze firing head 15 is provided which comprises a flat circular plate 16V having a central aperture 17 in alinement with the cartridge chamber of the breechblock 6 and a peripheral flange 18 which is secured upon the rabbeted end of the float 1 with a.l push lit and brads 19 or other suitable fastening devices.

The plate 16 is provided with rearwardly extending bosses Q0 and 21, the bosses 21 being tWo in number, and extending in parallelism from the plate 16 to provide a support for the hammer and trigger mechanism. The hammer 22 is pivotally mounted upon a pintle or rod 23 Which is secured in the bosses 2l, (one of Which is shown) and is provided centrally With a head 2-1 adapted to be projected against the pliable metal plate 8 to cause the firing pin 9 to impinge upon and to fire the cartridge 10.

A trigger 25, which is pivotally mounted upon a pintle or rod 26 secured in the boss 21, extends normally in substantial parallelism with the hammer and is provided with curved or re-entrant recess 27 which normally engages the end 28 of the hammer.

rlhe trigger is provided with an olllset extension 29 Which extends Vthrough the bi- 'urcated end of the boss 2O and normally against a should-er 30 in such position at the head 2l of tlie'haminer is normally h ield out oit engagement with the pliable ietal plate S against the actionof a spring l which tends to force the hammer toward l pliable metal plate 8. rElie ears 32 ot saro i'he boss Q0, provided by the bifurcation ot' .g boss, are provided with suitable apertures to receive a satety pm 33 which, When trigger proj beyond the boss Q0 a suflicient distance to permit actuation of the trigger when the safety pin 33 is removed.

Usual signals ot this type are discharged from a pneumatic gun or released from a tube as illustrated in Fig. 1, having a longitudinally extending slot 35 to receive the end ot the trigger, the slot 35 terminating short of the muzzle of the discharging apparatus to provide a shoulder 35:10 Which will engage the end of the trigger which projects into the slot and as the signal passes lrein the end of the discharging device Will cause the trigger to move about its pivot sulliciently first to cocl the hammer against the action of the spring 31 and When the end ot the hammer passes out of the recess 27 to release the hammer so that the spring will project the head of the hammer against the pliable plate 3, thereby causing the firing pin to i ipinge upon the cartridge and fire the same.

'Ehe firing of the cartridge will ignite the 'fuse l Whichdesirably comprises a line of slow-burning powder enclosed in a fibrous casing. The rremote end of the fuse preferably extends through tlie pyrotechn'ical composition and, shown, beyond the end of the pellet most remote from the breech and enters into starter 36 Which may be a mass of thermite or other readily igiiitable and powerful burning mixture.

lesii'ably the pellets are contained in a fibrous tube 37 and the starter 36 is held in a metallic, preferably Zinc container 3S having a cover 39 preferably in the form oi libre dish having a central aperture in which a short copper tube l0 is secured. The inner end of the copper tube is coveredivith a thin paper dish to hold the starter composition in the container.

One of the principal features of the in- It will be understood that the particular embodiment oic the invention disclosed herein is of an illustrative character and is not restrictive, and that various changes may be made in form, construction and arrangement ot parts within the meaning and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A marine signal comprising a lioat having a heavy base, a barrel having a chamber containing a `pyrotechnical composition capable of burning continuously Jfor substantially a predetermined period of time, means carried by said base tor igniting' said composition, means hermetically sealing said barrel to prevent admi Mion oi' water under pressure to said pyrotechnical composition during submergence including fusible means ot relatively smaller area than said barrel for venting the products of combustion of said composition when ignited during submergence.

2. A marine signal comprising a 'lloat having a chamber provided with a metallic wall forming a barrel, a pyrotechnieal composition within said chamber capable, when ignited, of producing llame and smoke for substantially a predetermined period of time7 means carried by said float Jfor igniting said composition, means for preventing admission ot water under pressure to said barrel during submergence including a venting tube of relatively small diameter extending from the otherwise closed muzzle of said barrel into proximity to the pyrotechnical composition and having a fusible plug to vent the products of combustion of said pyrotechnical material when burning during submergence.

3. A marine signal comprising a cylindrical wooden float having a central cylindrical chamber provided with a metallic wall forming a barrel, a pyrotechnical composition within said chamber capable of burning for substantially a predetermined period or" time, means operable upon release or discharge ot said signal for igniting said composition, metallic means ofr'relatively smaller diameter than said barrel hermetically scaling said chamber against the admission ot water under pressure to said composition while submerged including fusible means to vent the products of combustion ot said pyrotechnicalmaterial when burning duringl subineroence.

4l. A marine signal comprising a cylindrical wooden float having a central chamber provided with a tubular metallic wall forming a barrel, a pyrotechnical composition within said barrel capable, when ignited, of pr ducing llame and smoke for substantially a predetermined period oit' time, a watertight metallic closure tor the breech of saidbarrel providingsutlicient weight to maintain vsaid lioat in substantially vertical position, means for igniting said pyrotechnical composition at the end remote from said breech, means for sealing the muzzle of said barrel against admission of water under pressure including a iusible disk at the muzzle of said bai'- rel having a central venting tube provided with a fusible plug located in proximity to said pyrotechnical composition.

5. A marine signal comprising a cylindrical wooden float having a central chamber provided with a tubular metallic wall :torming a barrel, a pyrotechnical composition within said barrel capable, when ignited, oit producing flame and smoke for substantially a predetermined period et time, a watertight metallic closure for the breech of said barrel providing suliicient weight to maintain said float in substantially vertical position, means for igniting said pyrotechnical co-mposition at the end remote from said breech, means :tor sealing the muzzle of said barrel including a tube of relatively small cross sectional area extending inwardly from said muzzle and provided at its inner end with a closure fusible by heat of combustion to vent the products ot combustion.

6. A marine signal comprising a cylindrical lioat provided with a central chamber having a tubular metallic wall forming a barrel, a pyrotechnical material in said barrel, a watertight breech-block detachably sec-ured to said barrel having a central aperture forming a cartridge chamber and a thin plate of pliable sheet metal secured to said breech-block closing said aperture, a firing pin in said cartridge chamber engaging said sheet metal plate and the cartridge, means for firing said cartridge, a tuse extending through said pyrotechnical composition, anda starter at the end of said fuse remote trom said breech-block operable to ignite said composition.

.7. A marine signal comprising a cylindrical float provided with a. central chamber having a tubular metallic wall forming a barrel, a pyrotechnical material in said bai'- rel, means for sealing the muzzle of said barrel having fusible means to vent the pro-ducts of combustion of said composition upon ignition while submerged, a watertight breech-block detachably secured to said barrel having a central aperture forming a cartridoe chamber and a thin plate of pliable sheet metal secured to said breech-block closing said aperture, a liring pin in said cartridge chamber engaging said sheet metal plate and the cartridge, means tor liring said cartridge, a fuse extending through said pyrotechnical composition, and a starter at the end of said fuse remote from said breechblocl operable to ignite said composition.

8. A marine signal comprising a cylindrical float provided with a central chamber having a` tubular metallic wall forming a' barrel, a pyrotechnical composition in said barrel, mea-ns for sealing the muzzle of said barrel having fusible means to vent the products of combustion of said composition upon ignition while submerged, a watertight breech-block detachably secured to said barrel having' central aperture forming a cartridge chamber and a. thin plate of pliable sheet metal secured to said breech-block closing said aperture, a small tube extending into said cartridge chamber and containing a cartri( ge, a firing pin intermediate of and engaging said cartridge and said sheet metal plate, means for firing said cartridge, a fuse extending axially through said pyro-technical composition into said small tube and in proximity to said cartridge, and a starter at the end of said fuse remote from said breechbloclr to ignite said composition.

9. A marine signal comprising a cylindrical float provided with a central chamber having a tubular metallic wall forming a barrel, pyrotechnical -composition in said barrel, means for sealing the muzzle of said barrel, a water-tight breech-block detachably secured .to said barrel having a central aperture forming a cartridge chamber and a thin plate of pliable sheet metal secured to said breechblock and closing said aperture, a firing pin in said cartridge chamber engaging said sheet metal plate and the cartridge, a ring head secured to the end of said float comprising a spring-actuated hammer, and a triggerV operable first to cock and then to release said hammer to fire the cartridge, a fuse ignitable by said cartridge extending through said pyrotechnical material, and a starter at the remote end of said fuse to ignite said pyrotechnical composition.

10. A marine signal comprising a cylindrical float provided'with a central chamber having a tubular metallic wall forming a barrel, pyrotechnical composition in said barrel, means for sealing the muzzle of said barrel, a water-tight breech-block detachably secured to said barr-el having a central aperture forming a cartridge chamber and a thin plate of pliable sheet metal secured to said breechblock and closing said aperture, a firing pin in said cartridge chamber engaging said sheet metal plate and the cartridge, a firing head secured to the end of said float comprising a spring-actuated hammer, a trigger releasably engaging said hammer normally holding said hammer out of eifective engagement with said sheet metal plate and operable when actuated first to cock and then release said hammer to fire the cartridge, and removable safety means for preventing actuation of said trigger.

11. A marine signal comprising a float having a central chamber provided with a tubular metallic wall, a series of cylindrical pellets of pyrotechnical composition in said chamber,

means for Sealing the ends ,ot said chamber p against the admission of water under lpressure, means for. igniting said pyrotechnical composition, and resilient means interposed between one end of the series of pellets and the sealing means for the adjacent end of the chamber operable to prevent relative Amovement of said pellets and yieldable in response to expansion or" the pyrotechnical composition during combustion thereof.

12. A marine signal comprising a cylindrical iioat having a central chamber, a seamless metal tube lining said chamber and forming a barrel, a fibre tube fitting within said barrel and containing a series of' pellets of pyrotechnical composition, firing mechanism at the breech of said barrel, a fuse extending through said pellets, a starter container at the end of said fuse remote from the breech, a cover for said starter container, means for sealing the muzzle of saidv tube, and a spring interposed between said sealing means and said cover acting to prevent relative movement of said pellets and yieldable in response yto expansion of said pellets during combustion.

13. A marine signal comprisinga cylindrical float having a central chamber, a seamless metal tube lining said chamber and forming a barrel, a fibre tube fitting within said barrel and containing a series of pellets of pyrotechnical composition, firing mechanism at the breech of said barrel, a fuse extending through said pellets, a starter container at the end of said fuse remote from the breech, a

cover for said starter container, having a central aperture, means for sealing the muzzle of said barrel including a tube extending into the aperture in said cover and having at its inner end a closure of fusible material, and a spring interposed between said muzzle-sealing means and said cover.

14. A marine signal comprising a cylindrical iioat having a central chamber, a seamless metal tube lining said chamber and forming a barrel, a fibre tube fitting within said barrel and containing a series of pellets of pyrotechnical composition, firing mechanism at the breech of said barrel, a fuse extending through said pellets, a starter container att-he end of said fuse remote from the breech, a cover for said starter container, a breechblock for said barrel having a Vcentral aperture forming a cartridge chamber and pliable means for sealing the same, a firing head engaging said breech-block, spacing means intermediate of said breech-block and the end of the adjacent pellet, a tube extending from said cartridge chamber into said adjacent pellet, a fuse extending through said tube and said pellets, a starter container at the remote end of the series of pellets enclosing the end of said fuse, means for sealing the muzzle of said barrel and spring-actuated means intermediate of said muzzle-sealing means and said lstarter container Operable tepriellf? lllitve iio movement ot said pellets and yieldable in response to expansion of the pyrotechnical material Ywhen ignited.

l5. A marine signal comprising a cylin' drie-al float havin a central chamber, a seamless metal tube lining said chamber and forming a barrel, a fibre tube fitting Within said bai-rei and containing a series ot pellets or" pyrotechnical composition, tiring mechanism at the breech of said barrel, a -fuse extending through said pellets, a starter container at the end et said fuse remote 'trom the breech, a cover for said starter container, a breechblock for said barrel havingl a central aperture forming' a cartridge chamber and pliable means for sea-ling the same, a tiring head engaging said breech-block, spacing means intermediate ci said breech-block and the end of the adjacent pellet, a tube extending from said cartridge chamber into said adjacent pelret, a fuse Aextending through said tube and said pellets, a starter container at the remote end of the series of pellets enclosing the endet said fuse, a cover' for said starter container, a metallic disk sealing the muzzle of said barrel havinga central tubular mem ber extending through the cover of the starter container and having at its end a `fusible closure, a sleeve tting said barrel engaging said sealing dislr, and a spring under tension interposed between the inner end of said sleeve and the cover for said starter container.

16. A marine signal comprising a iioat having a chamber containing a pyrotechnical composition capable of burning continuously lt'or a substantially predetermined period et time, means for igniting said composition, neans for preventing admission of Water under pressure to said pyrotechnical composition during submergence including a relatively small tubular member having fusibie means preliminarily to vent the products oi' combustion of said pyrotechnical material when ignited, and associated sealing means fusible by the heat 'of combustion to provide a relatively large discharge opening for the flame and/or smoke of the burning composition.

l?. A marine signal comprising a cylindrical float having a central chamber, a metal tube lining said chamber and forming a barrel containing a pyrotechnical material, tiring`- mechanism at the breech of said barrel, a fuse extending through said pyrotechnical material, a starter at the end of the fuse remote from the breech, means for sealing the muzzle of the barrel including a metallic disk having` Centrally secured thereto a tube of relatively long diameter extending into proximity to the starter and provided With a closure of fusible material, whereby upon ignition of said starter said closure Will be fused prelimina'rily to vent the products of combustion and the dislr thereafter fused by the heat ort Combustion to provide a relatively large discharge aperture for the flames and smoke produced by said combustion. 1S. A marine signal comprising a lioat having a central chamber provided with a tubular metallic Wall forming a barrel, a pyrotechnical composition within said barrel capable When ignited of producing' flamel and smoke tor'substantially a predetermined pe riod of time, a watertight metallic closure for the breech of said barrel, means for iii-ing the pyrctechnical material at the end remote from said breech, a watertight metallic closure `tor the muzzle of said barrel comprising fusible members ot' relatively small and large areas operable upon ignition of the material first to vent the products oit combustion through the smaller fusible area and thereafter upon fusion of the larger' member to provide a relatively large aperture for the escape of the flames and products of com bustion.

in testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ROBERT J. ANDERSON. 

